The Cincinnati Reds won the game but they may have lost Elly De La Cruz, too. Cincinnati was able to avoid being swept with a 6-4 win over Atlanta as the Reds stopped the Braves winning streak and their own losing streak. In the middle of the game De La Cruz had to exit the game with a hamstring issue, though.
| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Braves (40-20) | 4 | 7 | 2 |
| Cincinnati Reds (30-28) | 6 | 10 | 0 |
| W: Lodolo (2-1) L: Strider (3-1) SV: Moll (1) | |||
| Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread | |||
Ronald Acuna remained hotter than the sun, leading off the game with a solo home run. It was his 4th home run of the series. The Reds would get that run back in the bottom of the inning after Elly De La Cruz singled and then scored on a double by JJ Bleday. Two innings later Cincinnati took the lead when those two paired up again with a walk by De La Cruz and another RBI double by Bleday.
Spencer Steer and Will Benson then got in on the action in the bottom of the 4th as Steer singled then scored on a double by Benson on a liner to the warning track over a leaping Ronald Acuna Jr that extended the lead to 3-1.
Nick Lodolo had been cruising along since the leadoff homer to start the game, but in the top of the 5th Jorge Mateo led off with a home run to get Atlanta within a run. In the bottom of the inning Elly De La Cruz hit a ball into the right-center gap but he wound up with a single after having to pull up as he got near 1st base. He got a visit from the trainer and it wasn’t long before he was walking off of the field and into the tunnel towards the clubhouse. Matt McLain came on to pinch run and take over at shortstop. He’d come in to score on a sacrifice fly later in the inning by Eugenio Suarez.
With Lodolo still on the mound in the 6th he ran into some trouble as he gave up two singles and then a walk to load the bases with one out. The Braves would get a sacrifice fly to bring a run across the plate and cut into Cincinnati’s lead. The Reds got that run back in the bottom of the inning after a leadoff walk by Spencer Steer and an RBI double by P.J. Higgins that made it 5-3. Another run would come for Cincinnati an inning later when Eugenio Suarez hit a solo home run into right-center that pushed the lead to three runs.
After Brock Burke came on to record the final out of the 7th inning he returned to the mound and had a 1-2-3 innings. The Reds turned the game over to Tony Santillan for the top of the 9th. After he got the first batter out, he walked Dominic Smith and then gave up a single to bring the tying run to the plate with one out. Santillan got a lazy fly ball to left field for the second out of the inning, but that brought Ronald Acuna Jr. to the plate. One of the hottest hitters in baseball over the last week, Acuna Jr. singled into center on a soft liner to bring in a run.
That ended Santillan’s day and Terry Francona walked to the mound to call on left-handed reliever Sam Moll to enter the game to face lefty hitter Michael Harris II with two on and two out in a 2-run game. Moll walked him in a 9-pitch battle to load the bases for Matt Olson. In this lefty-vs-lefty matchup it came to an end on the first pitch as Olson grounded out to Sal Stewart to end the game as Cincinnati held on for a 6-4 win to avoid the sweep.
Key Moment of the Game
Matt Olson grounding out to strand the bases loaded in the top of the 9th inning and end the game with the tying runs in scoring position.
Notes Worth Noting
Elly De La Cruz left the game with what the Reds described as right hamstring tightness.
JJ Bleday remained red hot. He’s had three straight 2-hit games and had multiple hits in four of his last five games. This series has boosted his line to .303/.398/.642 through his first 30 games at the big league level this season.
Spencer Steer had two hits and a walk, extending his on-base streak to 19 games. During the streak he’s hitting .315/.383/.425 with eight walks and 11 strikeouts.
Cincinnati’s pitching staff had more walks (6) than strikeouts (5).
The win puts the Reds at 30-28 at the end of May. It’s the first time since 2013 that May has ended and Cincinnati has had a winning record.
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
Kansas City Royals vs Cincinnati Reds
Monday June 1st, 7:10pm ET
Luinder Avila (0-2, 5.06 ERA) vs Chase Burns (7-1, 1.96 ERA)
Glad we rallied for the win today. Looking like a second division team where you go 1-2 at home against the good teams. Glad we get to turn the page on May.
Don’t care what anyone else says but I’m taking credit for today’s Reds win!
I purposely stayed off the RLN site before and during the game! You’re welcome!
Seriously, I am thrilled the Reds were able to salvage a win today!
Hoping Elly’s injury is not serious and that he will be back soon!
Way to take one for the team, Dennis! 🙂
So Dennis gets credit for the W and Elly’s injury. 🙂
Does that mean Dennis is batting .500 got the day?
To be 100% truthful, I was dealing with a bad tire issue on my primary vehicle today! Stuck at the tire shop! And, no, not taking credit Elly’s injury!
Thanks for taking one for the team today Dennis! We all appreciate your sacrifice.
Nope. I napped through the entire game. Invariably the Reds win when I do that.
Give Lodolo credit for getting deep into the 7th
Bleday is now a core LF and lefty power hitter for years under team control
Hayes contract is a mess but Bleday productivity and under control until 2029 is a really positive development that flips the value contract script longer term
Spencer “average” Steer was ok again
See how things go with him looking like a regular 2b now for a few weeks
Geno a big day . Oppo homer and sac fly
Go Reds
Can’t remember the last time a Reds SP went more than 6 innings! Nice job Lodolo!
Steer having a very good year, and really helping the team. First season he’s been above average. Not even debatable
Re: “First season he’s been above average. Not even debatable
That’s a silly claim, Steer’s 2023 was above average:
.271/.356/.464/.820 117 OPS+
Actually it is very debatable. 2023 to be exact and 2024 34 doubles, 92 rbi’s and 20 homeruns.
I’m glad Steer is still on the Reds. He’s on the verge of going from ‘Average’ to ‘Strong.’
Steer having a very good season and really helping the team. First season he’s been above average. Not even debatable. He’ll do very well at 2nd, where he should be playing on this team
This win is pretty huge, keeping close to the wild cards spots and defeating the best team in baseball at least once… Obviously it is so bad Elly getting hurt…
I think if Elly is going to the IL it’s inminent to call up Marte or Arroyo next week …
Meanwhile the Reds is heading to face the Royals sending Burns and Abbott for the first two games against them…we’ll see…
Wish they’d bring up both: Arroyo for the infield and Marte to try to make up for some of Elly’s offensive production
This win was especially wonderful for me this season because I did not want to see a sweep by the Braves. This will give the players lots of confidence knowing they can beat the Braves. I’ve always wanted De La Cruz to rest about every 15-20 days just to help the body deal with over work. When he did the DH, I thought well that’s half-way rest but not good enough. He can always pinch hit on a day off, so he remains “ready” in his own mind. He wants to compete and assigning him the role of PH once every 15-20 games will do just that. If he follows a plan like this, hamstring injuries are less likely.
Good outing by N Lodolo. Glad Santillian was removed for S Moll, because the odds of Santillian giving up the tying runs or go ahead runs to the Braves were in the odds of likely happening. Nothing is easy for the Reds right now, Nothing! Each win is a scratch and claw fight!
Y’all can thank my brother, his wife, and my niece. They were in LF celebrating her 50th birthday.
Happy 50th!
People who knock Steer are clueless. He’s been productive as a Red and probably the healthiest he’s been. He’s a professional hitter who can play multiple positions and to a very high level.
Glad Lodolo could go as long as he did. Minus pitching to Acuna which seems foolish at GABP he did well. Bleday should have made the team out of spring training but sure glad he’s here now. He’s been terrific.
Very high level? Okay
Gold glove caliber 1st base, 2nd, left field, right field. Absolutely yes. He’s pretty much the ultimate team player.
Exactly. Amazing how much better guys play without nagging injuries. Steer is a pro
I don’t remember who here said it in an earlier thread, but winning 1 of 3 against this Braves teams seems worthy of being called a success, despite losing the series overall.
Hmmm. Milw, NYY, and LA 6x in September. What is that 25 games? Only 8-9 wins there and we lock down last place
Reds were only down a run in game one going to the 6th and may have been down only 1 the next day in the 6th as well.As it turned out both games the Braves added on and the Reds never scored.Yesterday it was the Reds that were ahead and although the Braves scored the Reds added on.Tito knows what he is doing and at times we second guess him but you don’t bring in your best relievers and we have lost 3 of them down you bring them in ahead.Again the Reds didn’t score in games 1 and 2 but they did yesterday and held on.Its on the offense right now in every game to keep on scoring until the pitching gets healthy
Hard to beat Atlanta. Lodolo had a good game and the offense came to life, that’s what it took. Bleday had a great series. Eli has been the most consistent player offensively, tough losing him. Next man up. Let’s go Reds.
Hate to sprinkle a little rain on the parade, but if Acuna makes those plays in right, it’s a different ball game. Of course, thankfully they were hit hard out there rather than being strike outs.
If a frog had wings …
If if’s and buts were were candy it would be Christmas every day. Lol
Acuna is a phenom but he s had 2 devastating knee injuries missing parts of 3 seasons. He looked to me tentative approaching the warning track wanting no part of a wall collision and hard to blame him based on his injury history,.
I wish McLain could pick some question from Spencer as they are about the same size! Reds have come thru a rough month but things are looking up now as both Abbott and Lodolo are back to go with Burns. Should get Lowder back soon and later Greene. Glad we’ve got Moll, Burke and Ferguson but need right handers to step up.
I wish McLain could pick some queues from Spencer as they are about the same size! Reds have come thru a rough month but things are looking up now as both Abbott and Lodolo are back to go with Burns. Should get Lowder back soon and later Greene. Glad we’ve got Moll, Burke and Ferguson but need right handers to step up.
Forget what I said those were not my exact words
1 Dunn (RF), 2 Stewart (3B), 3 Bleday (LF)
4 Suarez (DH), 5 Lowe (1B) 6 Steer (2B)
7 Marte (CF), 8 Stephenson (C), 9 Arroyo (SS)
Losing EDLC even for a couple of weeks would stink, but if they do hopefully, they don’t just bring up Arroyo, it’s well past time to bring up Marte as well.
I’m totally fine if they bring up one or both of Marte or Arroyo if decide they are ready and they are ready to make the moves necessary for them to get steady MLB play.
In Marte’s case though, I have to wonder if he’s checked the two main boxes he was sent to AAA to improve on.
I’ve heard no reports on if his OF play has improved. I think him getting the OF reps to improve his routes and reading the ball off the bat is very important and best done in AAA. I also have concerns over him playing CF since to me he does not appear to be a high baseball IQ type of player. It’s hard for me to see how he’d be successful in directing traffic in a MLB OF.
The other big box is his plate discipline, and he appears to be actually regressing in that area at AAA despite his gaudy BA.
Marte’s AAA and MLB 0-Swing%
Year AAA MLB
2023 32.5 28.6
2024 34.9 37.1
2025 35.1 33.0
2026 37.2 47.4
We are coming at this from 2 different perspectives. I don’t think he should have been sent down to begin with, where you feel like he should have. So that will color both of our “check boxes”
As a defender, I agree that he’s not polished in the OF, but I’d rather him run balls down in CF than RF. He’s got the tools to do either, but reading balls in CF is easier. We also have Dunn or Friedl (depending on which would survive the roster cut) up here as a DR if needed in late innings.
2 is the most important part. I’d 100% write off the 2026 MLB numbers because of how he was used in what was a very short window of time. AAA is a different animal, and we know those numbers don’t corollate to the MLB. I would base Marte’s ability to hit to his MLB numbers from 23 – 25. If you average them out, he’s league average, but he has the potential to exceed that.
I actually did not want him sent down to begin with. But once they did I was glad he would get lots of OF reps outside of Cincy. Still would like to hear from someone in the organization though comment on any improvements he’s made there though.
Hitting wise he has all the potential in the world. He needs to improve his ability to stop chasing to get there though. I don’t much care about the MLB numbers above, it’s the AAA numbers clearly trending in the wrong direction that are concerning to me.
I look forward to him returning and hope he can make the adjustments to be the All-Star caliber player his talent hints at.